Liberty Swing in Whangarei

Published 01 April 2007, Posted in Northland

A ‘Liberty Swing’ designed to allow children who use wheelchairs to experience the thrill of ‘flying through the air’ as other children do when they play on swings, was gifted to the Whangarei community on Tuesday 13th March at the Town Basin playground.

The Variety Children’s Charity and Trillion Trust gifted the swing (worth $22,600) to the Whangarei District Council in mid 2005. However the Swing required special matting and installation, costing a total of $12,000.

As the Council work on a pre-planned budget basis, there were insufficient funds available to complete installation and unfortunately the swing was left in storage for awhile.

When the Disability Sector Reference Group found out that the swing was still sitting in storage 18 months on, Vanassa McGoldrick, Chairperson of the DSRG, sort and co-ordinated the aquisition of the remaining funds required to have the swing installed.

Council advised that they could fund 50% of the cost and required $6,000 to complete the project.

The Rotary club of Whangarei (Inc) came to the rescue, and donated $4,000 and on hearing the difficulties that the community faced, the Variety Children’s Charity also donated a further $2,000. Funds in place, the swing was installed, to the great delight of the disabled children of Northland.

This is an excellent demonstration of community groups, local government and disabled people working in partnership to work towards making their community a non-disabling environment.

Free keys for the Liberty Swing are available for families who have children who use wheelchairs. These keys can be obtained form CCS Northland at 291 Kamo Rd, Kamo, ph 09 437 1899 or alternatively you can borrow one that is kept at the Town Basin Information Centre i-site in the Claphams Clocks Museum, Town Basin, ph 09 438 1079, they are open 9 - 5, 7 days per week, a $10 refundable deposit is required. The keys fit all 14 Variety Liberty Swings in New Zealand.

 

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